Saturday, 11 November 2017

Marketing Blues: Misha Herwin

There’s a watery feeling in my stomach. My head feels
as if it’s not properly joined to my body and I keep forgetting where I’ve put
things.

All classic signs of stress, but I’m not taking an
exam, or going for a difficult interview, or an unwanted visit to the doctor. I
am just embarking on my marketing schedule for my new novel, “Shadows on the
Grass.”

I know that this is an intrinsic part of being a
writer, especially so, if you are Indie published. It’s what I signed up for,
so why is it causing me all this angst?

There are, I think, a number of reasons.

The first is the fear of getting it wrong. Marketing
now is such a big thing and there are is so much to organise that, if you are
like me and like to do things properly, the scope for not doing so is huge.
When should I send out the review copies? When should I ask people to host my
blog tour? Whom should I choose?

Which of course leads nicely into the second fear.
It’s not always easy to ask. People are busy, I tell myself. It’s a bit of an
imposition, why should they bother etc. etc. The reasons go round and round in
my head, cleverly masking the fact that what I am really scared of is
rejection.

Rejection, however, is part of a writer’s life. We all
know the stories. Best-selling author rejected dozens of times before their
break through. Even so, it is something that is never easy to deal with, though
it does get better with time.

But if you don’t ask, you don’t get and if you don’t
send out your work, you’ll never get published.

Most writers are helpful and supportive. Most like to
say “yes” if they can and if not they are tactful and kind in their refusal.

As for getting it wrong. How can you learn if you
never make mistakes?

So, deep breath.

The requests for blog tours are being sent out, the
reviewers have been contacted. This blog has been written and the adrenaline is
now flowing. From feeling like a terrible chore, I am now excited and eager to
get going.

All that is left is to wonder if anyone else has to go
through this, or am I unique in suffering marketing blues.